7 questions on baby names

7 questions on baby names

The annual round-up of the most popular names for babies is out, with Jack and Olivia bagging the top spots in England and Wales. Test yourself on the waxing and waning of popular names.

1.) Multiple Choice Question

Jack has topped the list of most popular baby names AGAIN. Since when has it been at the top?

1. 1994
   
2. 1995
   
3. 1996
   
4. 1998
   

Info

Originally a diminutive, Jack is now a name in its own right. Once a child called "Jack" had "John" on his birth certificate, but today's Jacks - including 8,007 born in 2008 - are just Jack. The same goes for Harrys, Alfies, Charlies, Katies, Millies and Mollies. Click NEXT to continue.

2.) Multiple Choice Question

But the popularity of John, and of Margaret - firm favourites in the early 20th Century - has waned. Which is still in the top 100?

1. Margaret
   
2. John
   
3. Both
   
4. Neither
   

3.) Multiple Choice Question

For girls, the top slot is held by Olivia, with the top five rounded out with past favourites Ruby, Emily, Grace and Jessica. What was number one a decade ago?

1. Emily
   
2. Grace
   
3. Megan
   
4. Chloe
   

4.) Multiple Choice Question

In Scotland, which has already released its 2008 list, Jack is back at number one for boys and Sophie for girls. Which name temporarily knocked Jack off the top slot in the 2007 list?

1. Lewis
   
2. Sean
   
3. Alistair
   
4. James
   

5.) Multiple Choice Question

Which name has gained the most in popularity in the past decade?

1. Freddie/Freddy
   
2. Rilley/Riley
   
3. Sienna/Siena
   
4. Lexi/Lexie
   

6.) Multiple Choice Question

In the United States, Emily and Madison are the most popular girls names from 2000-09. Which name tops the list for boys?

1. Jack
   
2. Thomas
   
3. Jacob
   
4. Michael
   

7.) Multiple Choice Question

And finally, Mohammed, Muhammad and Mohammad all figure in the top 100 - at 16, 37 and 65 respectively. Add all the spellings together, and where does this name rank?

1. First
   
2. Second
   
3. Fifth
   
4. Tenth
   

Answers

1. Jack has been the most popular boys name since 1995. But it only edged into the top 50 in 1984.
2. It's John, ranked 83rd, with 806 new Johns born in England and Wales in 2008. But Margaret no longer figures in the top 100.
3. It was Chloe in 1998, followed by Emily, Megan, Jessica and Sophie - all of which remain a fixture in the top 20 for England and Wales.
4. It's Lewis. It has been number one, with Jack second, for four years of the past decade. For the rest, Jack has been top with Lewis second.
5. It's Lexi - and Lexie - up 4,917 to number 73, and 4,911 to 79th respectively. For boys, Kian is the highest climber, up 436 to 67th in the 10-year period. And in the past year, the largest rises within the top 100 go to Riley - up 24 places to 33rd - and Lexi, up 40 places to 73rd.
6. It's Jacob, with the top five rounded out with Michael in second place - losing the top slot it has held since the 1960s - then Joshua, Matthew and Christopher.
7. It's second. But the ONS always lists each different spelling separately.

Your Score

0 - 3 : Jack in the box

4 - 6 : Jack the lad

7 - 7 : Jack of all trades

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